Photo: Skelleftea AIK defenseman and Anaheim Ducks prospect Tim Heed is currently second in scoring among SHL defensemen with 28 points in 42 games (courtesy of Lulea Hockey/Champions Hockey League via Getty Images)

The 2014-15 SHL season has made it through the holiday season and is heading down the final stretch, as roughly 75 percent of the games have been played to date. This is the time of the year when many clubs exchange a few parts, bring up juniors to fill in for injuries, and in some cases, watch as their young men represent Sweden at the WJC. Read more»

Photo: Kelowna Rockets defenseman and Winnipeg Jets prospect Josh Morrissey is one of six WHL defensemen that earned medals at the 2015 World Junior Championship (courtesy of Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

This is the first in a series of articles that ranks by position NHL-drafted prospects from the WHL. This article looks at defensive prospects that are property of NHL clubs who are currently competing in the WHL. Read more»

Photo: Los Angeles Kings prospect Nick Shore recently received his first call up to the NHL. Shore was picked by the Kings in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire)

Welcome to the January 2015 edition of On the Rush, a monthly column featuring prospects at various levels of competition who are either exceeding expectations or falling a little behind.

Photo: Rookie forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has managed to stay in the Washington Capitals’ lineup despite several prolonged offensive droughts. Kuznetsov was drafted by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Photo: Forward Nathan Walker continues to find a role in the Washington Capitals organization after being selected in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft. Walker spent the 2013-14 season with the Capitals organization prior to being drafted. (courtesy of Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

It has been an up and down season so far for the Washington Capital‘s AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. Through the first 29 games of the 2014-15 season, they find themselves second in the East Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference with 32 points, sporting a 14-11-3-1 record.